Post wedding celebration ideas

I have. My friend Dan got married (second marriage for both...he was divorced, she was widowed) during the same time of year as you: Thanksgiving weekend. They had only immediate family (maybe 10-15 guests max) at a little mountain B&B. For New Years Eve (just about a month later), they had a reception/good old NYE party. They expressly requested no gifts but did offer charities that they appreciate if someone wanted to give a token. It was dinner, dancing (live band), some toasts. No seating chart or toss, etc (remember, second wedding for both so they probably wouldn't have done it anyway had it been a "big wedding" in one day). I would just plan a nice dinner, dancing, and maybe the "shoe" game. Heard of it? You and hubby hold one shoe of yours and one shoe of your spouse. The DJ or MC asks questions like "Who's the morning person?" Or "Who's more organized" and you hold up the shoe of the person you think (yourself or hubby). You could make it like The Newlyweds game

I would say still celebrate it as if it's the first time. Like you said you only got married to make it easier to buy a house.

We're having a celebration of marriage next month. It's just going to be a casual dinner at a local restaurant with about 80 guests. We didn't register and won't be doing the traditional dances/garter or bouquet tosses. The only "traditional" wedding activities we'll do will be a cake cutting with a small cutting cake and our parents might say a few words. Other than that, it'll just be a get-together with both families.

I know someone who got married in Jamaica last year and are this year a year apart are doing a ceremony and hosting a party one year later.

Don't know if that's helpful

You can still pretend like you just got married. You are technically still newlyweds, so go all out if you want to and who cares what anyone has to say. This is to celebrate both of you as husband and wife so do whatever you want to do.

Think of your reception as a "kick ass party." What do you like to do at parties? Eat, drink, dance, play games, take goofy photos? Whether it's your first or tenth wedding, you absolutely do not need to do any of the "traditional" activities. We're only doing a cake cutting and MOH/BM speeches for the typical wedding stuff.

One of my best friends eloped last December and then had a celebration in March. They had small wedding parties (2 each), but that was really the only "typical" stuff they did. They rented out a brewery and had an open bar with beer and wine and had it catered with some delicious BBQ. No assigned tables though and buffet style. They had a DJ and people danced, but other than that it was just a big party. My friend did wear her dress, but only because she LOVED it and wanted an excuse to wear it again If that wasn't the case, I think it would've been a more casual dress attire.

Wedding celebrations are quite common actually. You're right to feel weird about doing the whole bridal party, bouquet toss, first dance, etc. Those things never make sense when the couple is already married. But other than that, host any kind of party you want. You can still hire a caterer to feed people and a DJ to get people out on the dance floor. Maybe a photo booth if you want. I'd shy away from games, honestly. Let them just eat, drink, dance, and mingle.

We are thinking of doing this since we are having a private ceremony with immediate family only. (I've been married before) We want to be able to drink and dance with them, plus extended family and friends, when we come back from our honeymoon!